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Confronting Change
THE PEOPLE
THE CHANGEMAKERS WHO FOUGHT FOR DESEGREGATION
Floyd B. McKissick Sr.
Floyd McKissick, pivotal in the Civil Rights Movement, excelled as an activist and legal advocate, leveraging his status as the first African American student at UNC School of Law. His legal prowess was evident in landmark cases, defending sit-in protesters and aiding school integration in Durham. Beyond the courtroom, he founded the first youth NAACP chapter, organizing protests and showcasing unwavering dedication. Despite threats, as the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) director, he led nonviolent demonstrations and dialogues with leaders, epitomizing sacrifices for equality.
Walter Riley
Walter Riley served as the President of North Carolina’s NAACP youth chapter, where he spearheaded voter registration drives, lunch counter sit-ins, job campaigns, and desegregation efforts across public facilities, schools, and businesses. Notably, Riley also assumed a leadership role as the chair of the Durham chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)’s Freedom Highways Project, aiming to desegregate public facilities along Highway 1 from Maine to Florida. After relocating to Oakland, California in 1965, he continued his commitment to activism, this time as a practicing attorney specializing in criminal defense, employment discrimination, and cases concerning police conduct.
Bessie McLaurin
Bessie McLaurin was a key advisor to the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), contributing significantly to the pivotal integration of Durham’s theaters. Her strategic collaboration with Mayor Grabarek proved instrumental in the successful integration efforts. McLaurin’s work involved coordinating a rising influx of Black patrons scheduled to attend films during the theater’s trial period of integration. Although McLaurin felt as though the trial period was degrading, she felt like it was the only way to advance the Civil Rights movement.
Vivian McCoy
An active demonstrator, Vivian was the first Assistant Secretary for the Durham NAACP Youth Chapter. She was also one of the original members of the NAACP Youth Commandos and endured many days in jail statewide for protesting. She continues to be an activist in Durham and the state, advocating for civil rights for all
Margaret Holmes Turner
Mrs. Turner served as the Youth Advisor for the Durham NAACP Youth Chapter, playing a crucial role in mentoring and providing support, including financial assistance, to young activists. Reverently known as the “Sergeant Mother” by many, she assumed a nurturing and guiding role for the youth involved in the chapter. Demonstrating her unwavering commitment, Mrs. Turner attended NAACP National Conventions consistently for years until her health prevented her from doing so. Her dedication extended beyond mentorship, as she took a bold step by enrolling her own children in a formerly all-white school, a courageous act aimed at rectifying the imbalances within the education system.
Wense Grabarek
Grabarek became mayor of Durham in 1963 at a time when efforts to integrate public facilities were failing. His leadership and conciliatory manner led to the peaceful integration of facilities, including the Carolina Theatre. Durham became a model for other cities in the state and the nation.
John Edwards III
As the first president of the Durham NAACP Youth Chapter, John worked with Floyd McKissick and his committee to craft strategies for civil demonstrations in Durham and across North Carolina. He was arrested many times statewide, and his life was frequently threatened because of his work.
Evelyn McKissick
As the “mother” of all youth participants, she protected the students, fed them, and monitored their actions and was a strong woman who supported her husband in all his endeavors. She met with young protestors and “schooled” them on the appropriate decorum and behavior for the nonviolent protests.
Louis E. Austin
Austin owned The Carolina Times, the only Black newspaper in Durham and only one of two in the immediate area. Embracing the motto “The Truth Unbridled,” he used the paper as a powerful tool to address racial injustices prevalent across the Southern United States. The Carolina Times, under Austin’s leadership, played a vital role in providing accurate and informed coverage of protests, uniquely positioned with a deep understanding of the events. In contrast to other publications, which often presented rewritten articles lacking in-depth knowledge, The Carolina Times stood out as a reliable source committed to delivering the unfiltered truth about the ongoing struggles for civil rights.
A New Generation
A Youth Led Protest
While many Black adults had only ever known segregation and had accepted it as a part of their lives, it was their children who actively championed to end segregation. Though many youth protestors recall fearlessness during demonstrations, their parents were deeply concerned for their safety.
Son, never pay for segregation and don’t ever let me catch you in a buzzard’s roost.
– John Edwards’ father
Their Stories
After Desegregation
Change extended beyond the Carolina Theatre. Despite integration, numerous Black individuals refrained from attending the theater. While many Black adults, who had endured Jim Crow, perceived this as a triumph, Black youth viewed theater desegregation merely as a beginning. Subsequently, youth protested the desegregation of public accommodations across the city and the nation.
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